Garment carrying bag



J.RWTER,JR

GARMENT CARRYING BAG Feb. 15, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 8, 1952Feb. 15, 1955 J. RITTER, JR 2,702,105

GARMENT CARRYING BAG Filed Nov. 8, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 NVEN OR.

MGM $772M arrow/95 Feb. 15, 1955 J. RITTER, JR

GARMENT CARRYING BAG 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 8, 1952 United StatesPatent GARMENT CARRYING BAG Julius 'Ritter, .lru, Racine, Wis.-,assignor :to Hartmann (Zompany, Racine, Wis., a corporation of WisconsinApplication November 8, 1952, Serial No. 319,539

Claims. (CL 1 90- -4 3) This invention relates to improvements ingarment carrying bags, and more particularly to -.a type of flexiblegarment and travelling paraphernalia carrier which will house fulllength garments for suspension in full length condition, the carrier orbag also being foldablc medially upon itself for hand carrying purposes.

In recent years the type of flexible garment carrying bag for fulllength garments which can be hung in outstretched condition from a hookin an automobile, Pullman compartment or acloset to enclose full lengthgarments with a minimum of wrinkling has become popular with thetravelling public. Customarily these garment carrying bags are alsoarranged so that when they are to be manually carried they may be foldedmedially upon themselves and grasped by a handle in the manner of anordinary suitcase or piece of hand luggage. In the latter condition theportion of the bag which was originally the transverse median of the outside wall of the bag then becomes the top of 'the case and is equippedwith the carrying handle.

In the available garment carrying bags of :the type under considerationwhen the same are folded upon themselves along the transverse median thecapacity of the bag at the portion which becomes the top for carryingpurposes is diminished by virtue ofthe fold, the portions of thegarments folded within the region of the transverse median of the bagbecome unduly confined and compacted and consequently are undesirablywrinkled and creased. I

With the above objection in mind inherent in the standard full length,foldable garment carrying bags, the present invention aims atgtheelimination of undue compacting in the area of thetransverse median ofthe bag when it is in folded condition by the provision of a reinforcedoffset in the transverse medial portion of the bag which serves to giveextra capacity 'to that portion of the bag which accommodates thefoldedrgar ments when the bag is in its folded carrying condition tothereby prevent undesirable compacting, wrinkling and creasing of thehoused garments.

, A further object of the invention is to :provide a flexible garmentcarrying bag of the character described having along the transversemedian of its outer wall a relatively wide rigid panel o ifset outwardlyfrom the vertical plane of the rear wall,' together with a rigidadjustable retainer bar positioned along the transverse median of theinner Wall of the bag.

.A further object of the invention isto prov-idea flexible .garmentcarrying bag wherein that .portion of the bag which becomes the top,when the bag -is in its folded carrying condition, is provided with anoutbecomes the top wardly offset section to increase the capacity of thefolded end portion of the bag, with a -rigi-d adjustable retainer barinwardly thereof which functions -.to force the folded portions ofhoused garments into the well provided by the aforesaidoffset.

A further object'of the invention is ttop'rovide "a-flexible garmentcarrying bag of 'thefltype'described equipped along the transversemedian of "its outer wall with a relatively wide outwardly "otfse'trigid :panel which, when the bag 'is folded upon itself *for carryingspur-poses,

2,702,105 Patented eb. 15, 1955 of the :bag and provides :a rigid andfirm anchorage for -'a carrying handle.

A further object of the invent-ion is toprovide a gar.- ment carryingbag which is of very simple construction, which when in its outstretchedcondition lrouses full length garments without folding or creasing inaddition to miscellaneous garments of other types and travellingequipment, which is easy to manipulate and support either in itsoutstretched or in its .folded condition, which is neat and attractivein appearance, and which is well adapted for the purposes described.

With the above and other objects in view the :in vention consists of theimproved flexible garment can rying bag and its parts and combinationsas set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference charactersdesignate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the garment carrying bag in itsoutstretched full length condition, looking at the inner face andoneside edge thereof;

Fig. 2 is an end perspective view of the bag in its folded transportablecondition;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, slightly in perspective; of the outer faceor wall portion of the bag in .its outstretched condition showing theoffset reinforcing panel along the transverse median thereof;

Fig. -4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view taken along theline 4-4'of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end view of the bag in its folded transportablecondition with parts being broken away and in section and with a brokenline showing of the position of garments housed within the ;-foldedportion of the bag.

Referring now particularly to the drawing, it will appear that theimproved garment carrying bag .1111 :its outstretched position isgenerally of rectangular contour and it is in the .nature of an enlargedenvelope at xsn'b s'tantial breadth with the various walls thereof beingformed of .a strong fabric or other flexible material. As is best shownin .Fig. 1 the inner ,face' wall, agenerally designated by-the .numeral,3, extends ':fr0m..top to bottom in the outstretched condition of thebag, and has attached to :its longitudinal edges narrower end walls 9and 10 which .are formed .o'f-fiexible material and which are in a planegenerally at rr ight angles .to the planes-of the inner wall 8 and :anouter wall 3151 the latter being secured to the other longitudinal edgesof the end walls 9 and '1 0 with the lines ofasecuremen't preferablybeing reinforced by leather covering strips or welts 12. .1

The inner face wall 8 of the bag may be opened as give access to theinterior of .the bag which .is adapt d to house full, length garments.'Ilhe opening separa} tion takes ,place along va transverse upperilin'e-of-sen, erance 13 normally closed by hoolcless .fas'tener-.meansand along a longitudinall-ine of s paration 14 adjacent the end wall 9normally closed :by hookless :fastener means. Centrally positionedwithin the .interior ofthe upper end of the bag when the "latter is inits .out-

. stretched full line condition of Fig. 1, are hangers {(not ments suchas coats, suits, dresses and .thelike. I

When, at a point of desin'a'tionor. .in .an automobileor Pullmancompartment, the garment carrying "bag may be supported in unfoldedoutstretched condition froman elevated support by .means of a hook .15at the top end of \the outstretched .bag, .whcreby .the full .lengthgarments then occupy the interior \of the bag in outstretchedrlnfoldedwondition, are maintained wrinkle and fold :free, and arefurthermore ,protected against dust when-the inner' wall 8 is securedinelosing-conditionby the ho'okless fastener means'.

Provided on "the outer face -0f the inner wall 8 are auxiliary pockets"16 "and 17 whioh'can bej -use r' -the shown) for the removable supportof-hill lengthgar- 3 storage of smaller articles of wearing apparel andrniscellaneous travelling equipment. The upper entrance margins to saidauxiliary pockets 16 and 17 are normally maintained in closed conditionby hookless fastener means 18 and 19.

Each end wall 9 and 10, intermediate its ends, has attached to its edgeportion adjacent the outer face wall 11 for local widening purposes, agusset strip 20 of trapezoidal shape. Secured transversely to the faceof the outer wall 11 along the transverse median thereof and coextensivewith the gusset strips 20, is a rigid reinforcing panel 21 formed ofveneer, fiberboard or a like rigid stilfening material. This reinforcingpanel 21 is preferably covered with a sheet of leather or otherfinishing material.

Secured to an intermediate portion of the panel 21 in a directionlengthwise thereof is a conventional carrying handle 22. It will beobvious that the flexible gusset strips 20 with the outer wall panel 21serve to locally widen or enlarge the width of the interior of the bagfor the purpose which will hereinafter appear.

Secured across the transverse median of the inner face Wall 8 of the bagand suitably covered with leather or other finishing-material is a rigidretainer bar 23. The location of this retainer bar on the inner wall 8corresponds to the location of the rigid reinforcing panel 21 on theouter wall 11 and the same is adapted to cooperate with said panel inforcing the folded portions of garments into full occupancy of thewidened pocket within the bag in the area of the gusset strips 20.

The opposite ends of the retainer bar 23 have secured thereto shortstrap sections 24 freely carrying buckles 25. The latter are adapted tobe adjustably engaged by the free ends of apertured securing straps 26which are adapted to extend transversely across the intermediateportions of the end walls 9 and and which have their other ends securedto opposite ends of the rigid reinforcing panel 21. When the improvedbag is in its packed condition and is suspended in its outstretchedform, as in Fig. l, the straps 26 may be adjusted relative to thebuckles 25 so as to cause the retainer bar 23 to lightly press againstthe intermediate portions of the suspended garments within the bag andto urge the intermediate portions of the garments compactly into theenlarged pocket provided by the gussets 20 and the panel 21.

When it is desired to fold the bag for transportation and manualcarrying purposes, it is folded upon itself with the retainer bar 23cooperating to easily accomplish the fold. Then, the folded portionwhich includes the panel 21 becomes the top of the folded bag, as inFig. 2, with the carrying handle uppermost. End wall portions of the bagare preferably provided with transverse straps 27 and 28 which carrycomplementary lock and latch elements 29 and 30. To secure the bag inits folded condition, these complementary lock and latch elements areengaged in the manner shown in Fig. 2.

As will also be noted from Figs. 2 and 5, that portion of the bag whichis at the top when in folded condition has extra interior capacity dueto the local widening of the end walls 9 and 10 by the gusset strips 20.This widened portion of the bag (in its folded condition) veryadequately receives the portions of the garments therewithin because ofthe extra capacity and prevents the then-folded portions of the garmentsfrom being unduly compressed, confined and wrinkled, as indicated by thebroken line showing'in Fig. 5.

The retainer bar 23 can furthermore be adjusted to regulate its distancerelative to the panel 21 to insure the disposition of the foldedportions of the garments in the enlarged pocket provided within thatportion of the bag. It is furthermore apparent that the rigid panel 21,besides cooperating with the gusset strips 20 to positively define anextension or pocket also provides avery rigid anchorage for the carryinghandle 22.

The improved flexible garment carrying bag has a very substantialcapacity and effectively houses for traveling purposes a plurality offull length garments as well as miscellaneous smaller garments,traveling equipment, and other articles. When desired, the traveling bagcan be hung in an outstretched full length condition which prevents thehoused garments from becoming wrinkled, or it may be conveniently foldedupon itself for hand transportation. 'In the latter condition, there isextra capacity wrinkling and undue creasing the portions of garmentsextended therethrough.

The garment carrying bag is convenient to manipulate and handle, isrelatively light, is neat and attractive in 'tpptlzlarance, and is welladapted for the purposes set ort What is claimed as the invention is:

l. A garment carrying bag for full length garments and of the type to besuspended in outstretched condition or folded medially upon itself forhand transportation, comprising flexible inner and outer face walls andflexible end walls secured together to form an envelope-like enclosure,intermediate edge portions of the end walls being widened beyond theplane of the outer face Wall, a transverse panel carried by the outerface wall coextensive with the widened portions of the end walls, saidpanel and widened portions of the end walls cooperating to provide anexpansible U-shaped pocket at the top of the bag when the latter is inits medially folded condition, and a carrying handle anchored on saidpanel.

2. A garment carrying bag for full length garments and of the type to besuspended in outstretched condition or folded medially upon itself forhand transportation, comprising flexible inner and outer face Walls andflexible end walls secured together to form an envelope-like enclosure,intermediate edge portions of the end walls being widened beyond theplane of the outer face wall, a transverse panel carried by the outerface wall coextensive with the widened portions of the end walls, saidpanel and widened portions of the end walls cooperating to provide anexpansible pocket at the top of the bag when the latter is in its foldedcondition, a rigid retainer bar carried transversely by the inner facewall intermediate its ends facilitating folding upon themselves of thebag portions therebeyond and forcing folded over bulky garment portionswithin the bag into said pocket and toward the panel, and a carryinghandle anchored on said panel.

3. A flexible garment carrying bag for full length garments and of thetype to be suspended in outstretched condition or folded medially uponitself for hand transportation, comprising flexible inner and outer facewalls and flexible end walls secured together to form an envelope-likeenclosure, a portion of the inner face wall being formed as a severableflap to give access to the interior of the bag only when the bag is inits outstretched condition, intermediate edge portions of the end wallsadjacent the outer face wall being widened beyond the plane of the outerface wall, a transverse panel carried by the outer face wall coextensivewith the widened portions of the end walls, said panel and widenedportions of the end walls cooperating to provide an expansible pocket atthat portion of the bag which becomes the top when the bag is in itsfolded condition, and a carrying handle anchored on said panel.

4. A garment carrying bag for full length garments and of the type to besuspended in outstretched condition or folded medially upon itself forhand transportation, comprising flexible inner and outer face walls andflexible end walls secured together to form an envelope-like enclosure,intermediate edge portions of the end walls being widened beyond theplane of the outer face wall, a transverse rigid panel carried by theouter face wall coextensive with the widened portions of the end walls,said panel and widened portions of the end walls cooperating to providean off-set increased capacity flexible pocket at the top of the bag whenthe latter is in its folded condition, a rigid retainer bar carriedtransversely by the inner face wall intermediate its end, adjustablemeans connecting said retainer bar with said panel facilitating thefolding upon themselves of the flexible bag portions therebeyond andforcing folded garment portions within the bag into said pocket andtoward the panel, and means for releasably securing together thefolded-over portions of the bag.

5. A flexible garment carrying bag for full length garments and of thetype to be suspended in outstretched condition or folded medially uponitself for hand transportation, comprising generally rectangularflexible inner and outer face and end walls secured together to form 0an envelope-like enclosure, intermediate edge portions of the end wallsadjacent said outer face Wall being widened, a transverse, rigid panelcarried transversely by the outer face wall coextensive with the widenedportions of the end walls, said panel and widened portions of the end atthe folded top end of the bag which houses without walls cooperating toprovide a pocket at the top of the bag when the latter is in its foldedcondition, a rigid retainer bar carried transversely by the inner facewall intermediate its ends, means adjustably connecting said retainerbar with the panel to facilitate the folding upon themselves of the bagportions therebeyond and forcing folded garment portions within the baginto said pocket and toward the panel, a portion of said inner face Wallhaving lines of severance to provide a releasable flap to give access tothe interior of the bag, means for releasably securing together theadjacent portions of the bag when it is in folded condition, and acarrying handle anchored on said rigid panel.

UNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited in the file of this patentHolbrook Dec. 6, 1927 Lee et a1. May 28, 1935 Belber May 28, 1935Marbury et a1 July 13, 1937 Hinson Mar. 9, 1943 Kleber Feb. 8, 1944

